After a special dinner of mac and cheese and broccoli, two helpings of cake, three Shirley Temples, an hour of dancing, and a cookie or two from the dessert table, Weezie was asleep on a chair.
My dad had asked me to dance, and I agreed to one song. It was a slow song by Celine Dion, and the melancholy mood of it pooled in my belly.
My mom sat next to Weezie, rubbing her back and watching the dancers. Rylan and Adam had danced to a Justin Bieber song, and then exited the dance floor to visit with his mom. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her gushing over Rylan, motioning to her dress and saying something to a relative. Probably how happy she was about the match. With my dad’s arm around my waist, I wondered if she’d feel the same about me.
It didn’t matter, though, because Cal would do right, but he wouldn’t marry me.
When the song came to an end, I gave my dad a hug. “Thanks, Dad.”
He kissed my cheek and said, “The honor is all mine.”
I decided to say good night to Rylan and Adam before gathering Weezie. Heading toward the bar, I saw Teddi to the right of Rylan, and made a mental note to text her later. I should have figured someone would have seen Cal and me together or sniffed out a story.
“Shell!” Rylan half shouted my name as I neared. “Weezie was so perfect. Adam and I want to take her to dinner one night. Something special.”
“Oh, okay. You’ve already spoiled her enough, though.”
“Never,” Rylan said.
This was the happiest I’d ever seen her, glowing as she was tucked into Adam’s side. I couldn’t help but glance a beat longer than necessary at him. He and Cal shared the same hair color, but that was it. Cal resembled his mom, so I assumed Adam looked like their dad, who passed away when they were little. I’d never seen a picture of their sister who was gone, but I imagined she was beautiful.
“Thank you for having us,” I told Rylan. “Including us. Weezie will never forget, and my dad was so honored to walk you down the aisle.”
Rylan broke free from Adam and pulled me into a bear hug. She was squeezing me so tightly, I thought she’d never let go.
“Hey, let a lady breathe,” came from behind me, and I knew the voice.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Emotions are getting the best of me,” Rylan said, finally letting me go. To her brother-in-law, she said, “Take a chill pill, Cal. I’m hugging my friend. Go talk to Adam.”
Cal scoffed. “Don’t think you can boss me around, sissy.”
Rylan rolled her eyes. “Ugh, this is the way he’s been.”
“Anyway,” I said, “I’m going to take Weez home. She’s asleep.”
All of a sudden, I was in a hurry to get out of there. The little hairs on the back of my neck were standing up, and I knew it had to be from Teddi watching me.
“Aw, she’s such a doll,” Rylan said. “We’ll see you in the morning?”
I guessed Rylan forgot I said I wasn’t going to the brunch, and I heard Cal clear his throat.
“Of course,” I said reluctantly. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
Although, I would rather do anything else other than see Cal—discuss our baby with Cal—but I was stuck.
“Let Adam carry Weez out for you,” Rylan said, looking at her husband, whose brother was standing next to him.
But Cal interjected. “I’ll do it. Don’t want the groom to miss any of his wedding reception.”
“Oh, Cal, are you sucking up to me?”
Rylan thought this was about her, which was good for me but bad for Cal. One thing about my girl, she hated secrets, and when this all came out—and it would—she was going to be pissed.
“Thanks, Caleb,” Adam said, addressing Cal by his full name, making some point that I wasn’t privy to.
“It’s nothing,” Cal said simply, but it was everything.
“Night, everyone,” I said as cheerfully as possible before turning and giving Teddi the stink-eye. Then I headed toward my mom and Weezie, Cal in tow.
It wasn’t until I was standing in front of my mom that I realized she’d know. She was like a witch that way, sniffing out the truth with the slightest of clues.
With Cal awkwardly looming next to me, I said, “Hey, Mom, I’m going to take Weez home.”
My mother didn’t even bother to look at me, keeping her focus on Cal.
Rather than making introductions, I cocked my thumb toward him. “Cal’s going to carry her out for me.”
“Isn’t that nice,” my mom said, an eyebrow raised. “I’m Marva,” she said to Cal.
He bent and extended his hand. “Cal. Don’t get up,” he said, glancing at a sleeping Weezie next to my mom, her arm draped across my mom’s legs.
Although the next comment was directed at me, Mom’s narrowed gaze was on Cal. “I didn’t know you had a friend here, Shell.”
That’s what she said in front of the man who up until a day or two ago was nothing more than a booty call, and now was about to be my baby daddy.
“I’m Adam’s brother,” Cal said, trying to redirect, but my mom was on a hunt for details, and nothing would deter her.
“Is that so?” Mom’s eyes pierced Cal’s with ruthless intent. “Have you known Shell long? You’re the one who saved my darling granddaughter, aren’t you? So, was it the right place at the wrong time, or was it the right time?”
Keeping his cool, Cal nodded. “In fact, yes. As you know, Rylan is close with your family, so by default I am. As for the saving, Weezie can swim, so it wasn’t much of a saving.”
Sounded like Cal was bringing out his lawyer skills, but he had no clue who he was dealing with. My mom had interrogated the best on the island and never lost.
Mom pursed her lips. “Well, thanks for helping. Shell seems to be moody lately, so beware.”
My cheeks flamed. “Oh my God, Mom. Please. Here,” I said to Cal while lifting Weezie and placing her in his arms.
He was clueless when it came to how to hold her, so I kept a hand under her butt so she wouldn’t fall.
“She’s a human, not a grocery sack,” I said, biting back a smile. “Hold her tight.”
He pressed my baby girl to his chest, and I let go, giving my mom a dirty look before saying, “Night.”
Mom gave Cal a Cheshire-cat smile. “Nice meeting you.”
“The pleasure was all mine.” He had the nerve to wink at her, which made my mom blush.
“Let’s go,” I grumbled, trying not to stomp.
I walked around the pool, turning around every few seconds to make sure the Neanderthal still had my kid. We wound through the hotel to the open-air lobby, and despite the stiff ocean breeze, I was burning hot.
When we were finally outside, a valet took my ticket, and Cal and I stood there in silence.
“We could talk tonight,” he said hopefully.
“Don’t use talking and my daughter dead asleep in your arms as an excuse to get in my pants.” The last part came out purposely hushed.
Thankfully, my car pulled up, and I opened the back door, taking Weezie from his arms and carefully buckling her into her booster seat.
“Tomorrow, that’s what I’m offering,” I said to Cal, then hurried to the driver’s side.
My phone pinged as I pulled up to the Grand the next morning, Weezie chattering in the backseat about going to the pool again. Rolling my eyes at how absurd my life was, I picked up my phone and saw the text from Teddi.
Yep, I’d texted her late last night, and then told her she had to watch Weezie for me.
I’m sorry. It slipped out because that B-I-T-C-H was there. You know I will watch Weez. Can I take her to the beach?
Looked like my daughter’s day was going to be made, while the jury was still out on mine.
I opened the car door, handed my key to the waiting valet, and went around to help Weezie.
“Mom, don’t be mad. This is more fun than having pancakes at home,” she said as we entered the hotel.
“I’m not mad, sweetie.”
“Your face looks mad.”
Kids. They didn’t mince words.
“I’m not. I promise.” And I wasn’t. Nervous, anxious, stressed was more like it.
Seeing Weezie’s face as we entered the brunch—her eyes widening at the buffet full of sweets, pancakes, fruit, and juices—settled my stomach the tiniest bit.
“You need to take some eggs too, baby girl. Brain food.”
“Mom, I have eggs at home,” she said as she grabbed a plate and began piling cinnamon pancakes and bacon on it.
“One or two bites,” I said, and she nodded.
We sat, and the server brought coffee around. “Oh, Shell, I’m pouring the new blend. Would you like some?”
I nodded. I knew a few cups of coffee were permitted in my current state, plus I needed the soothing aroma to comfort me. Coffee always reminded me of my dad, and his calmness would be what I wanted to embody today.
“You’re not eating?”
Rylan popped by the table, looking perfect in jean shorts and a pale pink tank top, a cardigan, and her sparkly new wedding band.
“I got so busy with Weezie.”
I smoothed my hand over my hair. It was still straight from the day before, but I could feel the humidity wafting in from the open French doors. It wouldn’t be long before it started to curl.
“Go make a plate,” she said and shooed me off with her hand.
I didn’t argue . . . until I arrived at the buffet and wanted to turn around. Making himself a plate was a freshly shaven Cal. Eggs and fruit covered his plate as his yummy smell wafted off him.
“Morning,” he said.
I nodded and helped myself to some fruit.
“What about your pancakes?”
“Oh, Weez got hers.”
“You need more than that.”
“Cal, you don’t know the first thing about my condition,” I said, not wanting to say the word pregnancy aloud.
He nodded and then placed a pancake on my plate, followed by some eggs. “See you after you eat and get Weezie settled. I’m in my usual room . . . for privacy. I imagine you don’t want to have this conversation around others.”
I had to give it to him; the guy was slick.
It was doubtful I had anything insightful left to say, so I went to eat.
Weezie hugged Rylan good-bye and went back to gobbling up her food. I took a bite of my pancake, and it was awfully good. As if Cal had willed it, I’d just finished everything on my plate as Teddi appeared.
“Hey, Weez, want to go to the beach with me?”
“Teddi, really?” My daughter hopped out of her chair, ready to rush out the door.
I had to hand it to her, Teddi knew what she was doing too, earning brownie points with me as she swept my daughter out of here. Weezie knew Teddi because she’d hung out at my place a few times, bringing wine over for a girls’ night.
Weezie bounced up and down next to me. “Oh, Mommy, can I?”
Unable to dislodge the lump in my throat, I nodded. “She just ate a huge breakfast, so I would stay out of the water for a while. Her swimsuit is on under her clothes.”
“No worries. We’ll pick up some seashells while we’re out there.”
“Oh, can you sunscreen her?”
Teddi nodded.
“See you later,” the pair both hollered as they walked away.
I caught Cal out of the corner of my eye, watching the scene before slipping out too. Wiping my mouth, I set my napkin down and went to walk the plank.
I mean, talk with Cal.